Cheating cheaters

last updated 8 January 2015

Paris

The Tour de France cycling race ended this week, but the doping scandals continue. Even before the three-week race began, at least three cyclists were disqualified for using drugs or blood enhancements. Then, the leader for much of the race, Michael Rasmussen of Denmark, was kicked off his team just days before the finish because he had lied about his whereabouts, apparently to avoid a drug test. And now Alberto Contador of Spain, the winner, has been accused of doping. German scientist Werner Franke, the man who blew the whistle on doping in East Germany decades ago, said he has documents that prove Contador took insulin, human growth hormone, and an asthma medicine. “It is the greatest swindle in sporting history,” Franke said. Contador denied the accusation.